Avoid alcohol. It makes you feel warm because it dialates your blood vessels, allowing the blood to move to your extremities where your body heat is swept away in the breeze. Let your body protect its core temperature.

Avoid tobacco. It constricts your arteries and keeps you from getting adequate circulation to keep you warm.

Use Your Brain and other tipsTell someone where you’re going. It’s harder to find lost or injured hikers when no one even knows they’re missing.

Tell that person when you get back. This can save SAR hours looking for you through the night while you sleep comfortably at your best friend’s house.

Don’t take those “shortcuts” between switchbacks. They take more energy and wear away the trail, causing other hikers to trip or sprain their ankles (especially in the dark). Please be a team player and protect our trails!

Don’t toss rocks down cliffs or mountain sides where other hikers or climbers may be below you.

Bring a radio or phone if you have one. They may not work in many canyons, but you’d be surprised what good reception you can get with a line of sight to a city.

if you have an FRS radio (one of those cheap little ubiquitous things), Utah County SAR has designated channel 1 as our unofficial official FRS frequency since it seems most people try to contact us there.Â Be sure to turn off any “tones” so you can hear us respond to you even if we’re not transmitting that tone.